Releasable lock for a bolt of a firearm

ABSTRACT

A bolt lock assembly is provided for a firearm which has a rotatable bolt and safety actuating means for securing the firearm against firing. The lock assembly is connected to the safety means such that the bolt is secured when the actuating means secures the firearm against firing. A hand-manipulable release element is carried by the bolt handle to release the bolt for turning, independently of operation of the actuating means, such that the bolt may be turned even while the firearm is secured against firing.

United States Patent [191 Bielfeldt et al. Jan. 1, 1974 [54] RELEASABLE LOCK FOR A BOLT OF A 2.514.981 7 1950 Walker et al. 42/70 R FIREARM 2,843,960 7/1958 Larsson 42/70 R [75] Inventors: Heinz Bielfeldt; Manfred EI N PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Birkenhagen, both of Eckernfor 714.807 9/1954 Great Britain 42/70 R Germany [73] Assignee: Firma J.P. Sauer & Sohn G.m.b.H., Primary E"'ami"er Benjamin Borcheh Eckemfmde, Germany Assistant ExaminerC. T. Jordan Attorney.lames Cockfield [22] Filed: Mar. 27, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 238,428 [57] ABSTRACT A bolt lock assembly is provided for a firearm which [30] Foreign Application Priority Data has a rotatable bolt and safety actuating means for se- Sept. 16, 1971 Germany P 21 46 401.7 Curing the firearm against firing- The lock assembly is connected to the safety means such that the bolt is se- 52 us. c1 42/70 R eured when the eetuating means secures the firearm 1511 Int. (:1 F4lc 17/08, F41 17/00 against firing- A hend-menipulable release element is [58] Field of Search 42/70 R carried y the belt handle to release the belt for turning, independently of operation of the actuating [56] References Ci d means, such that the bolt may be turned even while UNITED STATES PATENTS the firearm is secured against firing.

1,037,468 9/l9l2 Godsal 42/70 R 10 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures 1 RELEASABLE LOCK FOR A BOLT OF A FIREARM The invention relates to an bolt lock for small arms having a rotating bolt for locking the firing chamber 7. The bolt lock is operable to secure the bolt in a closed position to prevent opening. The bolt lock is coupled witha safetymechanism which prevents actuation of the firing mechanism in order to assure the safe, but immediate readiness of the firearm. That is, when the firearm is.set at safe, the firing mechanism is prevented from being actuatedto fire the firearm, and the bolt lock functions to prevent the bolt frombeing opened unintentionally. Such unintentional opening might occur, forexample, if the'bolt handleis caught by vines or branches, such as in the case of a loaded firearm being used forhunting.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Customarily, in the case of known firearms which are provided with an bolt lock for locking the bolt against rotation,'the boltlock is coupled with the safety mechanism in such a waythat when the firearm is on safe, the firing mechanism cannot be actuated and the bolt is locked against opening and can be opened only when the firearm is not set at safe. In other words, the 'bolt andfiring mechanism are both eitherlocked or capable of actuation. As a result, there is a definite uncertainty while handling the firearm, because, upon opening the bolt, a shot can be fired involuntarily.

In order to eliminate this uncertainty, a three position safety device has been devised and used. In the firing position of such device, the firing mechanism and the bolt are freed. In an intermediate first safety position of such device, the firing mechanism is secured without the bolt being locked, and in a second safety position the firing mechanism is secured and the bolt is locked. The safety device is provided with an outside member for manual movement between the respective positions. The operation of such a safety device having an intermediate safety position for the outside-operated safety member is relatively cumbersome. Thus, for opening the bolt, the insertion of the outside safety member into the intermediate position frequently is omitted for reasons of convenience or inattention. In other words, when the bolt is to be unlocked for opening, the safety member is merely immediately transferred to the firing position, thus impairing the safety of the firearm when it is being unloaded.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore a primary object of the invention to obviate or minimize problems of the type previously de' scribed.

An additional primary object of the invention is the provision of an bolt lock wherein opening of the bolt is possible with the firing mechanism being secured and wherein avoidance is afforded of the cumbersome manipulation of a three-position safety device which requires the operator to reach back to the safety arrangement with his hand prior to opening the bolt.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a safety arrangement in which the bolt may be quickly and easily unlocked at the bolt handle.

BRIEF SUMMARY In order to achieve the above objects, an unlocking element is provided which is operable independently of a safety mechanism. The unlocking element is operable to move a locking element out of a stop notch of a firearm bolt while the safety mechanism for the firearm firing mechanism is in its safety position.

Basically, the locking element consists of a lock pin which can be shifted vertically or approximately vertically within a bore of a rifle casing. In its locking position, the lock pin engages a recess of a bolt handle. The lock pin can be forced into its unlocking position by the unlocking element preferably in the form of a pressure bolt, or button, which is guided in the bolt handle. This is advantageous in that the pressure button which forces the lock pin into the unlocking position is within reach of the operators hand grasping the bolt handle and can be operated easily by the thumb of the right hand.

According to another particular aspect of the invention, the lock pin is coupled with inside members of the safety mechanism by way of a resiliently flexible control lever.

In a further facet of the invention, in the case of small arms having a safety device which includes a safety slide and a safety bar connected with it, a control lever of the lock pin comprises a lever articulatedly mounted to the housing of the trigger mechanism and jutting through an eye of the safety bar. In such case, the control lever consists of spring wire, which has two legs running approximately at right angles to each other. The outside leg jutts through a cross bore of the lock pin, which bore is preferably widened from its center toward its ends.

THE DRAWING In the drawing, a preferred embodiment of the invention has been represented by way of example in which:

FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal sectional view through the rear part of a repeating rifle taken along the line A--A of FIG. 2, wherein the safety elements are shown in the firing position by solid lines, and in the safety position by dash-dot lines; and

FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B of FIG. I with the lock element in its locking position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION A cylindrical bolt 10 of a gun is guided within a casing 11 of the gun, which casing is connected with the barrel of the gun. The bolt 10 includes an attached handle 10a, by which handle the bolt can be turned and shifted axially. Below the casing 11 of the gun, is provided a trigger housing 12 of a conventional triggering device not shown. In a rear extension 1 1a of the casing 11, a safety slide 13 is shiftably guided and is connected to a safety bar 14 that extends along the outside of the housing 12. The safety bar 14 is not connected to a separate safety mechanism, but looks the firing mechanism directly by means of its forward bent portion which projects into the trigger housing (shown as a broken line). The safety principal is nevertheless the same as in US. Pat. No. 2,514,981 as in both cases the trigger is blocked.

. In a bore of the gun casing 11 there is provided a bolt lock assembly including a lock element in the form of a lock pin 15 guided for vertical or approximately vertical shifting movement to lock the bolt against rotation. The lock pin 15, in an upper position, projects into engagement with a recess, or stop notch, b of the bolt handle 10a, to obstruct rotation of a shoulder portion 10c of the notch 10b, and thereby locks the bolt 10 against turning.

When the lock pin is in a lower position, in which it has emerged from the recess 10b of the bolt handle 100, the bolt 10 can be turned and opened.

The lock pin 15 is provided at its lower end with a cross-bore 15a through which a resiliently flexible control lever 16 passes. The control lever 16 is rotatably attached to the housing 12 of the triggering mechanism by means of a screw 17. The control lever 16 has two legs 16a and 16b which preferably extend at approximately a right angle to each other, i.e., in the form of an L.

The outside leg 16b passes through the bore 15a of the lock pin 15. The bore 150 of the lock pin 15 extends from the middle of the lock pin 15 to the two ends thereof in a rounded out, or conical configuration in order to prevent the leg 16b of the control lever from being jammed inside the bore as the control lever pivots.

The control lever 16 is operated by means of the safety actuator, or safety bar, 14, which bar 14 has secured thereto an apertured flange, or eye, 14a through which the leg 16a of the control lever 16 passes.

Positioned above the lock pin 15, within an extension of the recess 10b, is a releasing or unlocking element in the preferred form of a pressure bolt, or button, 18. By pressing on the button 18, the lock pin 15 can be forced downwardly into its unlocking position against the bias of the control lever 16, with the resiliently flexible control lever 16 being bent correspondingly. As a result, the bolt 10 can be turned.

The pressure button 18 is prevented from dropping out of its mounting by means of a peg 18a positioned within a recess of the bolt extension, and extending into a groove of the button 18, as is shown in FIG. 2.

The safety bar 14, in its forward unlocking position, releases the firing mechanism safety for firing and orients the control lever 16 such that the control lever maintains the lock pin 15 in a downward position wherein the bolt handle 10a may be turned.

In the rearward position of the safety bar 14, shown in dash-dot lines in FIG. 1, the firing mechanism is secured against firing, and the control lever 16 is positioned such as to maintain the lock pin 15 in its upper position to prevent turning of the bolt handle 10a.

The bolt handle 10a is preferably provided with a shoulder portion forming the notch 10b, shown at the left of the notch in H6. 2. This portion serves to cam the lock pin 15 downwardly when the bolt handle is being closed, until the lock pin is aligned with the notch.

OPERATION The method of operation of the device is as follows: To unlock both the firing mechanism and the bolt, the safety slide 13 is slid to its forward position. This moves the safety bar 14 to its forward position and causes the firing mechanism safety to be released and the control lever 16 to be pivoted forwardly. Consequently, the lock pin 15 is pulled to its downward position in which it does not project into the recess 10b of the bolt handle 100. In this position, the firing mechanism may be actuated and the bolt may be turned.

When the safety slide 13 is pushed rearwardly into its safety position when the bolt 10 is in its closed position, shown in FIG. 1, then the control lever 16 is caused to be swung backwards by means of the safety bar 14. Consequently, the firing mechanism safety is actuated and the control lever 16 forces the lock pin 15 into its upper position in which it projects into the recess 10b of the bolt handle 10a to thus lock the bolt 10 against turning.

According to the invention, the bolt 10 may be opened even when the safety slide is in its rearward position locking the firing mechanism. Accordingly, the pressure button 18 is pressed down, conveniently and easily by the thumb of the right hand grasping the bolt handle 10a. The button 18 engages the lock pin 15 and forces it out of the recess 10b of the bolt 10 against the spring counter-pressure of the leg 16b of the control lever 16. After the bolt handle 10a is rotated, the lock pin 15 is moved up by the control lever spring action.

When the bolt 10 is turned for closing, the lock pin 15 will be cammed downwardly by the shoulder of the bolt handle 10a. When the recess 10b becomes aligned with the lock pin 15, the lock pin will project into the recess 10b of the bolt handle 10a due to the upward force exerted by the spring leg 16b of the control lever 16. Thus, the bolt 10 will be locked so that it cannot be opened unintentionally.

Although the invention is preferably used in connection with small arms with a rotating bolt lock, it is not limited thereto. It also can be used, with appropriate modifications, with small arms having a straight pull lock.

MAJOR ADVANTAGES AND SCOPE OF THE INVENTION The present invention affords a convenient apparatus for affording quick release of a bolt lock in a firearm.

By means of the instant invention a slidable safety bar is movable to either a firing position releasing both the firing mechanism and the bolt, or a safety position securing both the firing mechanism and the bolt, wherein however, the bolt alone may be unlocked without moving the slidable safety bar.

The pressure button of the instant invention permits a simple release of the bolt lock by means of the thumb of the right hand grasping the bolt handle.

Further convenience is provided by the design of the bolt handle and the use of a spring-like control lever, through which it is required only that the lock pin be pushed down by the pressure button, with remaining movement of the lock pin being caused by normal handling of the bolt handle.

The elements of the instant invention are easily adaptable for use in a firearm having a straight pull lock with only simple modifications being necessary.

Although the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that additions, modifications, substitutions and deletions not specifically described may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. in a firearm having a housing, a firing mechanism including a triggering mechanism, a rotatable bolt, safety actuating means being movable to a safety position for securing the firearm firing mechanism against firing operation, and a bolt locking assembly including a locking element and an unlocking element, the improvement wherein:

said locking element is operably connected to said actuating means for selective movement:

into engagement with a recess in said bolt to lock said bolt against turning when said actuating means is in the safety position, and

out of engagement with said recess to permit turning of said bolt when said actuating means is out of the safety position;

said unlocking element being operable independently of said actuating means for moving said locking element out of engagement with said recess when said actuating means is in the safety position. 2. In a firearm according to claim 1, the improvement wherein:

said locking element includes a generally vertically shiftable lock pin mounted in a bore of the firearm housing; said recess being provided in a handle portion of said bolt; said lock pin projecting into said recess when said actuating means is in the safety position; said unlocking element including a pressure button being slidably guided in said handle portion and being engagable with said lock pin forcing said lock pin out of engagement with said recess. 3. In a firearm according to claim 2, the improvement wherein:

a resilient control lever is operably interconnected between said lock pin and said safety mechanism. 4. In a firearm accordingto claim 3, the improvement wherein:

said safety actuating means includes:

a safety slide, and

a safety bar connected to said safety slide and including an apertured part;

said control lever comprising:

a spring wire member including a pair of generally perpendicularly extending first and second leg portions;

one of said leg portions extending through the apertured part of said safety bar and being pivotally connected to a housing portion of the firearm triggering mechanism;

the other of said leg portions extending through a cross bore in said lock pin;

said cross bore being widened from its center to its respective ends.

5. A lock assembly for a firearm having a rotatable bolt comprising:

hand-manipulable actuating means; a locking element operatively connected to said actuating means for movement between:

a first position wherein said lock element secures said bolt against rotation, and

a second position wherein said lock element releases said bolt for rotation; and

hand-manipulable element-releasing means operable independently of said hand-manipulable actuating means for moving said lock element to its second position wherein said bolt is released for turning.

6. A bolt lock assembly according to claim 5 wherein:

said lock assembly includes a spring means for yieldably biasing said locking element into a recess in said bolt when said locking element is in its first position; and said element releasing means comprising a button movably mounted in an apertured portion of said bolt and being movable against said lock element to shift said lock element to its second position. 7. A bolt lock assembly according to claim 6 wherein said spring means comprises:

a spring wire member including a pair of generally perpendicularly extending first and second leg portions; one of said leg portions being connected to said actuating means for movement therewith and being pivotally connected to a housing portion of the firearm; the other of said leg portions extending through a cross bore in said lock pin; said cross bore being widened from its center to its respective ends. 8. A bolt lock assembly according to claim 7 wherein: said locking element is slidably mounted in a bore carried by a housing portion of said firearm; said locking element, in its first position, being engageable with a recess in a handle portion of said bolt; and said button being slidably mounted in an apertured portion of said bolt portion. 9. In a firearm having a firing mechanism, a movable bolt, safety actuating means being movable to a safety position for securing the firearm firing mechanism against firing operation, and a bolt locking assembly including a locking means and an unlocking means, the improvement wherein:

said locking means is operably connected to said actuating means for selective movement: to a first position to lock said bolt against movement when said actuating means is in the safety position; and

to a second position to permit movement of said bolt when said actuating means is out of the safety position;

said unlocking means being operable independently of said actuating means for moving said locking means to its second position when said actuating means is in the safety position.

10. In a firearm having a rotatable bolt, safety actuating means being movable to a safety position for securing the firearm firing mechanism against firing operation, and a bolt lock assembly including a locking element and an unlocking element, the improvement wherein:

said actuating means includes a hand-manipulable safety bar;

said locking element including:

a generally vertically slidable lock pin mounted in a bore of the firearm housing;

a control lever having a pair of relatively angularly extending legs;

one of said legs being mounted for pivotal movement and being operatively connected to said safety bar for movement therewith;

the other leg portion of said control lever being operatively connected to said lock pin such that movement of said safety bar to the safety position causes said lock pin to be shifted into locking engagement with a recess in said bolt, and movement of said safety bar out of its safety position causing said lock pin to be shifted out of locking sure member against said lock pin causes said engagement 531d recess; lock pin to be shifted out of engagement with said unlocking element including:

a hand manipulable pressure member slidably mounted on a handle part of said bolt adjacent Safety P said lock pin such that movement of said pressaid recess while said actuating member is in its 

1. In a firearm having a housing, a firing mechanism including a triggering mechanism, a rotatable bolt, safety actuating means being movable to a safety position for securing the firearm firing mechanism against firing operation, and a bolt locking assembly including a locking element and an unlocking element, the improvement wherein: said locking element is operably connected to said actuating means for selective movement: into engagement with a recess in said bolt to lock said bolt against turning when said actuating means is in the safety position, and out of engagement with said recess to permit turning of said bolt when said actuating means is out of the safety position; said unlocking element being operable independently of said actuating means for moving said locking element out of engagement with said recess when said actuating means is in the safety position.
 2. In a firearm according to claim 1, the improvement wherein: said locking element includes a generally vertically shiftable lock pin mounted in a bore of the firearm housing; said recess being provided in a handle portion of said bolt; said lock pin projecting into said recess when said actuating means is in the safety position; said unlocking element including a pressure button being slidably guided in said handle portion and being engagable with said lock pin forcing said lock pin out of engagement with said recess.
 3. In a firearm according to claim 2, the improvement wherein: a resilient control lever is operably interconnected between said lock pin and said safety mechanism.
 4. In a firearm according to claim 3, the improvement wherein: said safety actuating means includes: a safety slide, and a safety bar connected to said safety slide and including an apertured part; said control lever comprising: a spring wire member including a pair of generally perpendicularly extending first and second leg portions; one of said leg portions extending through the apertured part of said safety bar and being pivotally connected to a housing portion of the firearm triggering mechanism; the other of said leg portions extending through a cross bore in said lock pin; said cross bore being widened from its center to its respective ends.
 5. A lock assembly for a firearm having a rotatable bolt comprising: hand-manipulable actuating means; a locking element operatively connected to said actuating means for movement between: a first position wherein said lock element secures said bolt against rotation, and a second position wherein said lock element releases said bolt for rotation; and hand-manipulable element-releasing means operable independently of said hand-manipulable actuating means for moving said lock element to its second position wherein said bolt is released for turning.
 6. A bolt lock assembly according to claim 5 wherein: said lock assembly includes a spring means for yieldably biasing said locking element into a recess in said bolt when said locking element is in its first position; and said element releasing means comprising a button movably mounted in an apertured portion of said bolt and being movable against said lock element to shift said lock element to its second position.
 7. A bolt lock assembly according to claim 6 wherein said spring means comprises: a spring wire member including a pair of generally perpendicularly extending first and second leg portions; one of said leg portions being connected to said actuating means for movement therewith and being pivotally connected to a housing portion of the firearm; the other of said leg portions extending through a cross bore in said lock pin; said cross bore being widened from its center to its respective ends.
 8. A bolt lock assembly according to claim 7 wherein: said locking element is slidably mounted in a bore carried by a housing portion of said firearm; said locking element, in its first position, being engageable with a recess in a handle portion of said bolt; and said button being slidably mounted in an apertured portion of said bolt portion.
 9. In a firearm having a firing mechanism, a movable bolt, safety actuating means being movable to a safety position for securing the firearm firing mechanism against firing operation, and a bolt locking assembly including a locking means and an unlocking means, the improvement wherein: said locking means is operably connected to said actuating means for selective movement: to a first position to lock said bolt against movement when said actuating means is in the safety position; and to a second position to permit movement of said bolt when said actuating means is out of the safety position; said unlocking means being operable independently of said actuating means for moving said locking means to its second position when said actuating means is in the safety position.
 10. In a firearm having a rotatable bolt, safety actuating means being movable to a safety position for securing the firearm firing mechanism against firing operation, and a bolt lock assembly including a locking element and an unlocking element, the improvement wherein: said actuating means includes a hand-manipulable safety bar; said locking element including: a generally vertically slidable lock pin mounted in a bore of the firearm housing; a control lever having a pair of relatively angularly extending legs; one of said legs being mounted for pivotal movement and being operatively connected to said safety bar for movement therewith; the other leg portion of said control lever being operatively connected to said lock pin such that movement of said safety bar to the safety position causes said lock piN to be shifted into locking engagement with a recess in said bolt, and movement of said safety bar out of its safety position causing said lock pin to be shifted out of locking engagement with said recess; said unlocking element including: a hand manipulable pressure member slidably mounted on a handle part of said bolt adjacent said lock pin such that movement of said pressure member against said lock pin causes said lock pin to be shifted out of engagement with said recess while said actuating member is in its safety position. 